THE CREW

Pittsburgh Guitars is a music store that's staffed by musicians. We understand your love of music, especially guitars, and we're here to help, show, teach, or just talk about guitars and gear with you. We know guitars!

JohnJohn acquired his first REAL guitar at the age of 10. It was a Stella acoustic that his parents bought from a neighbor for $25. With money saved from his first job (working at a clothing store while in high school) he bought a `76 Gibson Les Paul at Pittsburgh Guitars in 1979, one of the first of many guitars to be purchased at the store. After being employed in robotics and industrial sales he decided it was time to work in a field he felt more passionate about, and started working at the store in 2002. When Carl decided to retire at the end of 2011, John became the new proprietor of Pittsburgh Guitars.

Current Band:The ElliottsName of First Band: The Metal RainbowFirst Live Gig: Carrick High Talent Show--I played my `76 Les Paul through an Ampeg V4 full stack. Thought that it would be cool to turn the amp to 10. I was wrong.... Main Live Rig: Epiphone Casino through Vox AC15Favorite Bands: Beatles, Zeppelin, Badfinger, Tom Petty, XTC, The Jam, Crowded House, The Church, The Kinks, Neil Young, Big Star
Musician would most like to Meet: Jimmy PageFirst Concert: Aerosmith with Golden Earing
First Car: 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix. It was $900.Humor Influences: Monty Python, King Of Queens, The Office, Austin Powers, Peter SellersWho Would Play Him in a Movie: John Cusack mainly because of High FidelityPlay The Kevin Bacon Game: Nick Nolte shopped at Pittsburgh Guitars, Nick Nolte is in Cape Fear with Robert DeNiro,
Robert DeNiro is in Sleepers with Kevin Bacon

ScottScott got his first guitar (an Airline archtop) as a junior high school student in Ft. Worth, Texas. Influenced by The Beatles and the rest of the British Invasion as well as the Beach Boys, he sold his comic book collection to buy his first electric guitar. After moving to Pennsylvania, he switched to bass (a Hofner Beatle Bass). Not destined for the corporate world after graduating from college, Scott began repairing guitars to supplement his musician's pay. The rest, as they say, is history.

Name of Current Band: The ElliottsName of First Band: Raspberry JamLive Rig: GK 800RB & 410 cabinet/ Rickenbacker 4001Favorite Bands: The Beatles, ZZ Top, the list is longOr Musical Influences: I like good songs by anyoneHumor Influences: Monty PythonMusician I Would Most Like to Meet: Billy Gibbons- love the attitudeFirst Concert: Yardbirds w/ Jeff BeckFirst Car: 1961 Chevy station wagonFavorite Beer: There's so many--what day is it?Favorite Food: Grilled meat

SamAlthough he doesn't remember it, Sam’s parents tell him he saw the Beatles play on the Sullivan Show at age 5. But Sam often refers to the Monkees, with their TV show being his first musical memories, as his “gateway drug to rock and roll.” While in 8th grade, Sam decided to learn guitar and “borrowed” his first instrument, a Harmony Stella acoustic, from his Junior High music department. Fascinated by instruments, Sam plays guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, some drums and keyboards and records music in his spare time. Even though he’s a child of punk rock, Sam has studied guitar with the likes of Ernie Hawkins, John Renbourn, Woody Mann and John Cephus. Favorite quote: “It’s a guitar. There are no rules.”

Name of Current Band:The SicksName of First Band: The WhereaboutsLive Rig: Gibson double cut Les Paul Special with P-90’s, Vox coiled cord, Marshall JCM800 50 watt 1x12Favorite Bands: Too Many to count. Sonic Youth, Zeppelin, the Stones (Everything up to “Some Girls”), Sabbath (“The first 4 LPs are perfect”), Bowie (“everything up to “Scary Monsters”), Mott the Hoople, the Velvets, John Coltrane Quartet, Neil Young (on electric guitar), Sex Pistols, the Ramones, the Clash. Should I keep going?Musicians I Would Most Like to Meet: Billy Gibbons, Lemmy, Keith Richards, Neil YoungFirst Concert: Humble Pie/REO Speedwagon, Civic Arena ‘74First Car: $600 Mazda Hatchback with 160,000 miles on it.Favorite Beer: East End Big Hop, but generally any beer that’s cold and free.Favorite Food: Grilled flesh, sushi, but I never met a pizza I didn't like, either.Humor Influences: Monty Python

BetsyDesperately wanting to be a Beatle, Betsy gave up trombone lessons and got her first guitar when she was 8 years old. It was plastic, and wouldn't stay in tune, so she cried until her mom took it back and brought home the yellow Stella. On the heels of buying her first Martin guitar from Carl at Pittsburgh Guitars in Bloomfield (many years later!), she took off for Los Angeles, where she worked on that Beatle thing, while tending bar to support her guitar-buying habit. She was signed to Vanguard Records in 1989 with Andy Robinson and their folk-pop band, Different World. Their self-titled CD (she was sad that they didn't press an actual LP!) met with critical acclaim, but still The Beatles paid no notice. Back in Pittsburgh some years later, she hung around Pittsburgh Guitars--by then on the South Side--so often that it turned into a job. It was a good fit!

Current Musical Projects: Rising Moon, Front Street, The Make-Believers, B & The Ksters, and trying to find time to practice....First Live Performance: I sang Ragtime Cowboy Joe at a talent show when I was about 8. I didn't win, but I still remember all the words!Main Live Gear: Martin D-18V, Lowden 0-25Some Favorite Bands & Musical Influences: The British Invasion bands and the US bands that answered them, the Southern California singer/songwriters, The Sophisticated Ladies, TJHS choir. . . did I mention The Beatles?First Car: A Ford Pinto . . . the exploding kind!Humor Influences: The Smothers Brothers, Christopher Guest, Tina Fey, Robert MondaviMusician I Would Most Like to Meet: Lyle Lovett

BobBob's aunt gave him his first guitar as a gift when he was 12. It was a Harmony all-mahogany acoustic, with really, really high action. He got his first electric guitar for his 13th birthday after begging his dad for it; it was a Hondo II Les Paul copy. That started his love of Les Pauls & was the first of many guitars bought at Pittsburgh Guitars. Later on, he owned a BC Rich Warlock - a guitar he say is almost comical now - a Jackson Rhoads, and many other metal guitars. His guitar preferences would evolve to a more conservative taste to include Strats, a double cut Hamer, and of course, a '69 LP Deluxe - his favorite. He nicked named that guitar "The Beautiful Ugly" because it sounds so awesome but looks so beat.

Name of First Band: Metaltech - we never made it out of my folks' basement.
First Gig: With Savagery at South Vo-Tech in the hallway (no metal in the main auditorium). I played my BC Rich through a Crate amp. Thank God I moved to tube amps, ha, ha. Live Rig: `69 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe and/or the Hamer Eclipse through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. First Concert: Motley Crue and WhitesnakeFavorite Bands: Black Sabbath, Metallica, Slayer, Mastodon, Tom Waits, Alice in Chains, Thin Lizzy, Clutch, Storm King Musician I'd Like to Meet: BLACK SABBATH - especially Tony Iommi! Humor Influences: the patrons at the Slovak Club and other drunks around Pittsburgh. It's quite entertaining and provides a lot of material. Favorite Shows: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Walking Dead

RichRich first saw Elvis on TV when he was a wee lad, and knew he had to play guitar right then and there. His first guitar was a Stella acoustic and his dad taught him C, F, and G, and the scales in between. One day Dad said "Next time you go to your F chord, throw an Eb in there...." and suddenly a light bulb went off in his head. "What's that?" asked Rich. "That's the blues," said Dad. Rich replied, "That's what I want to do!"

Name of Current Band: The Make Believers, Traffic Jam, and solo guitar gigsEarly Influences:Duane Eddy, The Ventures
Name of First Band: Bugsy & The StencilsFirst Gig: The Dutch Club in OverbrookFunny Gig Story: We were too young to drive, so we hired 2 taxis--one for us, and one for the gear!Live Rig: If it's a blues gig, I must have my Strat. For a "cocktail" gig, I must have my Les Paul Custom w/Bigsby.Favorite Bands: The Beatles, Tedeschi Trucks Band Musician I Would Most Like to Meet: Johnny A.First Concert: The Shower of Stars at the Civic ArenaFirst Car: `55 VW Bug (black)Favorite Beer: ColdFavorite TV Shows: Mad Men, The Good Wife, Dexter, The SopranosHumor Influences: Richard Prior, Steve Martin

SpencerSpencer's first musical instruments were the viola and clarinet, but as he discovered rock n' roll he began to develop his own musical taste, and started playing guitar around age 12. His musical pursuits have led him to study Jazz Guitar at Duquesne University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Guitar Performance. Spencer plays around town in various groups, playing primarily funk, jazz, and rock music, but enjoys all genres.

Current Band: Duration Band, and a few different side projectsName of First Band: Discontinued First Live Gig: I played the Hard Rock Cafe through a school of rock-type program.Main Live Rig: Fender American Standard Stratocaster or an Eastman 810ce through a Fender Hot Rod DeluxeFavorite bands: Soulive, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Wes Montgomery, I always found it hard to say who my favorites are though...Musician I Would Most Like to Meet: If I could bring him back to life, that'd be pretty cool to hang with Wes MontgomeryFirst Concert: Mickey Hart with Zakir Hussain and some other World percussionists Favorite Beer: Rogue Juniper Pale AleFavorite Food: Indian FfoodFavorite TV Show: Breaking Bad!!!!Humor Influences: Louis C.K., Aziz Ansari, and George Carlin Who Would Play Me in a Movie: Bruce Willis with a huge beard

AnthonyAnthony received his first guitar for Christmas when he was 7 years old. Since his mother and grandmother were avid fans of classical music, his first guitar lessons were from a classical teacher who taught Suzuki method. However, he was corrupted in his teenage years by listening to his dad’s record collection, which included B.B. King, The Who, Lucinda Williams, and Chick Corea. He bought his first electric guitar at age 15, and began to play in his high school jazz band and gig around Pittsburgh. The joy of collective music making and improvisation is what inspired him to pursue a career in music. After graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Anthony returned to Pittsburgh, where he currently freelances and teaches.

Current Band: YuName of First Band: The Juicy CickensFirst Live Gig: My middle school talent show! Main Live Rig: Strat or Epi Casino through a Peavey Delta BluesFavorite bands: Prince, Deerhoof, D'Angelo, The Band, Duke Ellington OrchestraMusician I Would Most Like to Meet: Keith RichardsFirst Concert: One of the earliest I can remember is Christopher Parkening with the PSOWeirdest Gig: I played this outdoor festival where the MCs had to advertise this thing called a Pee-Mate between sets—It was this disposable cone that girls could use to help them pee standing up like guys do. I think Pee-Mate was one of the festival sponsors. Favorite Food: Indian foodFavorite TV Shows: Louis, Twin PeaksHumor Influences: David Foster Wallace, Louis C.K. Who Would Play Me in a Movie: Someone kinda nerdy, like Tobey Maguire

BenBen grew up in a musical family, and his parents started him on the piano at an early age. At age 10 he switched to the trumpet, but it wasn't until he started playing guitar, at age 16, that he decided to become serious about music. He received a bachelor's degree in Jazz Guitar Performance from Duquesne University, and he currently teaches and gigs around Pittsburgh with groups that play many different styles.

First Live Gig: High School Talent ShowMain Live Rig: Gibson ES345 through a Henriksen Jazz AmpFavorite Bands: Robert Glasper Experiment, Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, Miles Davis's Second Quintet, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo (except the new album), Soulive, Pat Martino, George Benson, so many more…Musician I Would Most Like to Meet: Miles DavisFirst Concert: I went to one of the youth concerts at the Pittsburgh Symphony when I was about 5Humor Influences: Louis C.K., Zach Galifianakis, Dave ChappelleFirst Car: 2005 Jeep LibertyFavorite Food: GuacamoleFavorite TV Shows: Louie, Mad Men, Breaking Bad

AriannaEveryone at Pittsburgh Guitars, and all of her students wish Arianna the very best of everything as she moves on to her next adventure!